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Lancashire will rush Andy Flintoff from Buckingham Palace to Bristol tomorrow, but will still be deprived of the services of Ian Austin and Neil Fairbrother as the incompetence of the English Cricket Board hits a new low.

Amazingly, England's World Cup players have been ordered to go to the Palace to meet the Queen at an official reception rather than play for their counties.

Lancashire have already been forced to do without Flintoff, Austin and Fairbrother for two Championship matches because of the World Cup, and the only silver lining on the cloud of England's shock early exit was that they would all be back for tomorrow's game against Gloucestershire.

Instead they learned yesterday that the players would be required for the lunchtime reception. Lancashire are prepared to gamble on starting the game with 10 players by including Flintoff even though he will not arrive until after lunch, but decided that they would have to leave Fairbrother and Austin out.

No Lancashire official was prepared to comment on the situation, but the club is thought to be furious - especially with the team third from bottom of the table, and desperate for points to climb into the top half and qualify for the First Division next season.